Twas The Day Before Christmas...

The boys "enjoying" A Christmas Story.

Quick, easy and hidden. The boys coat hooks.

Playing together.

"Baby Chill" chillin' in his sleep.

 Kevin: I poopy

Mommy: Do you want me to change you?

Kevin: No

Mommy: Why not

Kevin: cause

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

The boys trim the tree following Thanksgiving.

Kevin's 23 Month Photo.  They felt like doing number #1 for some reason. They weren't pointing to anything or anyone. 

Santa. 

Kevin is stringing words together-

Uh iss - I want this

Uh waa iss - I don't want this

They are very similar but very different.

He can also say Santa.

Nick learned a new word too- Awkward

Backup Thanksgiving

The weekend before Thanksgiving we needed to get Nick's room painted.

Nicholas helped Daddy in all of the middle sections. When he grew tired he offered to help me just a tiny bit more. Then rolled his roller once more and called it a night.
Nick picked out this water blue. Come see it in person, it is much brighter.

Geared up for painting.

It needed to be painted because the Kaspers were coming over and Nick wanted to show off his new room. Cole was Nick's best friend from the old day care. We were also old neighbors.

 Thanksgiving Dinner.
Kevin just wedged his way in there and had a good time with his cousins.

The next day we had a visit from old friends who moved away earlier this year. It was great to see the Michelottis and to see Kevin spend time with his Godfather.

 

Swtiched

Coming up to nearly a month now, we switched Kevin so that he is no longer rear facing. Before, he was too small to move to the next carseat larger. He loves his new seat and cup holder that goes along with it.

Nick is now buckling himself up like Mom and Dad. Only when we arrive at a location the word "Release" is said and he can unbuckle. It's super cute that Nick says it, but also Kevin too says it and perfectly.

Mommy & Nick playing Mario

Trouble!

Just like when he wins on Mario, Nick made a replica awards stand.

Mommy's night.  We switch every other day.

Recall when I was talking about Kevin's favorite color? He has a pillow that shines stars in multiple colors on the ceiling. He clicks over to blue light every time.

Kick & Nevin, those are their new unofficial names by Dad.

4 1/2 & 22 Months

Nick is closer to 5 since now he crossed the halfway point to getting there. When he was three all he spoke about was wanting to be four...and it is the same for four.

 22 Months old.

Proud of his work.

They are playing more and more with each other. Just need to learn sharing more.

Recently we have had many guests stop as we had two parties, two weeks apart.
Lots of friends and family.

One guest left Nick a present for the next day, Cousin Kellie.

"Snowman with Wings"

We have a little artist on our hands...runs in the family.

Nick has amazed us with some of his creations.

"Untitled"

A Christmas tree with Santa.

4.5 years old and he now has learned the proper way to say "Yellow" prior to that he said "Lello".

Kevin's favorite color is Blue. Over the summer nearly every day, Daddy would let Kevin pick out which shirt I should wear. Almost every day he'd go to a blue shirt that was just a weekend shirt, but then after I shook my head he chose another shirt. He has two winter coats, but refuses to wear the red one. Then the other day he requested the coat by color, "blue".

Kevin's vocabulary is awesome, and that comes with the cute way he goes about saying those words. San up

See dow

Hel-e (help me)

Pees (please)

Dee que (thank you)

Kevin hates eating dinner, and for weeks would not touch anything on his plate. Recently Daddy rounded up a cheering squad that claps with every piece of food that enters his mouth. So far it's working.

Halloween 2013

Learning big boy things.

There was one last warm day for the fall.

He enjoys getting geared up.

 Daddy gave Nick the marker and said you can draw anything you want. When he was done, we caved it out together. Only thing is missing is the eyebrows that we cut later.

The Monkey & Superman

This is one of Nick's favorite holidays, he counts down the days leading up to it. The sun peaked out and the rain stopped for an hour, perfectly fitting our route. Kevin was really excited to receive candy and was eager to get to the next house.

When we got home Kevin decided to put his candy in the food processor.

Nick chose a sucker first, out of all the candy he received. 

Nick LOVES to color! He can spend hours doing so. He loves drawing people.

Kevin's vocabulary keeps growing. Many times a day he'll come up to you and say "co on" aka: come on, and wave his hand hoping for you to follow him somewhere. He is a good kid and still is an easy "baby" to deal with. He no longer sits in a high chair but instead on a booster, or just on his knees. Not because he out grew the high chair, but because he mentally was done and would climb down often.

Four weeks later

It has been my longest stretch ever of no updates since the birth of Nicholas. That being said in the near future that shouldn't be a problem as I have accepted a new position at a job much closer to home. This will allow me to spend much more time with my family.

How about I just start last month and go in chronological order.

Cousin Henry hangs out with the boys at Aunt Tammy's engagement party.

They also had a jumpy there!

The next weekend Mom and Dad went to a fraternity brothers wedding in St. Louis.

Thanks to G&G Bowman for watching the boys!

Almost every morning during this contract job the boys joined me for a 6am breakfast. It was so nice of them to adjust their sleep schedules ;)

On rare occasions I was able to put Kevin down.

Dad finally had the chance to take Nick to a soccer game at the local high school. He picked out the best player and pretended that was him.

A pumpkin patch with cousin Dec & Corm

We all went through a large corn maze. Navigational Nick led the charge with the occasional help from the others. The worker at the entrance said the average time was 15-20 minutes. We finished it in 8. Good thing too, not sure I'd have any hair left if Kevin was still up there.

 Nick getting his way.

Kevin getting his way. His 22nd month photo.

Two Words Camping

Recently Daddy decided to take the family camping, all in the same tent with some of the palooza families. It worked out quite well and the boys loved it. 

The next morning they woke and played with their toys as the rain poured outside. Little did we know that Kevin's pack-n-play was up against the tent. It make a gutter like fountain so much so that when I lifted up Kevin's pad there was a pool of water under it. We darted out of there eating breakfast out of the rain.

And that is when Kevin tried his first Egg McMuffin

And the rare days that Nick sleeps in his bed we get these photo opportunities.

For some reason this photo reminds me of one from the 1970s, but in fact it was taken this month. 

Engineer Kevin? And then it fell.

For fun a couple weeks ago I took out a child soccer ball that I had bought Nick and started kicking it around outside with Nick. I was amazed at his ball control, kicking it with both feet as I chased him. So much so that I decided to prepare him for next years team. So began teaching him soccer and such positions as being a goalie. 

And a kicker.

Nicks favorite book is - Charlie the Caterpillar

Kevin's is - Superman (Nicks book) He actually brings it to us and sits listening to the whole story.

Kevin has began stringing words together, his first was - "Help Me" when he needs assistance.

For the first time he can say Nick! - "Nock" He said it for the first time in his prayers.

Daddy's contract job was just extended for the second time and now runs to the end of October. I am thrilled to be working for this company but miss the time lost with the family. 

20 Months Old and Thirsty

Kevin is now 20 Months Old

Kevin can do a somersault and can now jump.  He jumps off the ottoman onto the floor landing on his rear each time.

New words - Ho Ho Ho (when he sees a pretend Santa in his favorite book).

Apple

Cracker

Dad had a great idea to open up Nicks bedroom by putting the bed in the corner. I come home to this most nights.

Kevin's newly converted toddler bed. I come home to him most nights with him already sleeping too.

Except...

except...this is what I really come home too.  He sleeps by the door until I come home. Mommy said he is really missing me. "Daddy" is the first name he calls out in the morning when he wakes...and goes to kick the door until I/we get him.

A quick breakfast before Daddy has to go catch a bus.
Nick still loves his plain organic oatmeal with raisins. We have recently reintroduced it to Kevin. He is much cleaner this time around.

Always thirsty.

Where did Kev go?

There he is!

Out to dinner, Nick loved the beads the restaurant provided. He somewhat enjoyed his crabby patty sandwich, most of which Kevin ate.

Did you know Nick can now do a backflip with the aide of the couch? He also tries to do a cartwheel?